Reps to meet Governors, leaders of 18 political parties, others

The Special Ad-hoc Committee on Constitution Review, chaired by Hon. Benjamin Kalu, is expected to meet with the 36 state governors, leaders of the 18 registered Political Parties, and Traditional Rulers and Leaders of Faith-Based Organizations while carrying out the national assignment.

Other stakeholders listed in the proposed activity work plan, exclusively seen by Nigerian Tribune, include Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Citizen Groups, Marginalized Groups, and Media Executives, among others.

Speaking during a meeting with the newly appointed 9-Member Technical Team of Consultants, Hon. Kalu disclosed that the Constitution Review exercise is expected to be concluded by December 2025.

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The members of the team are: Mamman Mike Osuman, Professor Nuhu Mohammed Jamo, Chief Chris Uche, Mr. Seni Adio, Hon. Samson Osagie, Barrister Clement Nwankwo, Professor Ezeilo Joy, and Professor Ladi Hammalia.

While noting that the selection of the technical team was purely based on merit, expertise, and personal capacity, the Deputy Speaker explained that the team is vested with the mandate to:

• Develop a reasonable time-bound work plan for the Committee’s activities in liaison with the Committee Secretariat.
• Advise the Committee on the methodology to adopt in carrying out consultations with stakeholders and interest groups and sieve out germane issues that may arise therefrom.
• Develop reliable and appropriate data collection techniques for adoption by the Committee.

The Team is also expected to collate, study, analyze, and assess all memoranda received from the public to bring out the issues raised in a structured manner and, where applicable, draft constitution amendment bills for the Committee’s consideration.

Other responsibilities include:

• Analyzing and presenting the collected data in a simple, concise, and organized manner for the Committee’s deliberations and consideration.
• Conducting research on bills/measures and policies referred to the Committee and advising on their viability and likely consequences on proposed constitutional alterations.
• Advising the Committee to arrive at decisions that are fair to all and in accordance with the fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy.

The Committee has adopted a timeline of 24 months, terminating in December 2025, to conclude its assignment as contained in the work plan.

The Committee is also expected to conduct Zonal public hearings across the nation as well as public engagements.

While enjoining the Technical Team led by Executive Director, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), Clement Nwankwo, to consider the assignment as a call to duty and their contribution to national development, Hon. Kalu observed that the appointment “is a call to serve your fatherland.”

He also disclosed that publications requesting memoranda on the burning issues in the socio-political and economic spheres of our nation have been sent out, and the Committee has started receiving memoranda accordingly.

In his remarks, Chief Chris Uche, who acknowledged the importance of the Constitution Review exercise under the democratic dispensation, expressed the Team’s resolve to work assiduously toward the success of the national assignment.